There will be no king and queen fundraising campaign for Key West’s Fantasy Fest this year.
The Royal Campaign, an annual eight-week fundraising campaign for A.H. Monroe leading up to the island’s Fantasy Fest celebration in October, has been canceled, the nonprofit’s board of directors announced Friday afternoon.
“In an abundance of caution and recognizing its health services mission, the board of directors of A.H. of Monroe County, effective immediately, has canceled The Royal Campaign of Fantasy Fest 2021,” states a press release.
“Our King and Queen candidates are, of course, disappointed, but they are supportive of our sensitivity to the recent surge of COVID infection in Monroe County,” said AH Executive Director/CEO Scott Pridgen.
“The inability to enforce masking and/or vaccination contributed to today’s decision,” added Christopher Elwell, board president. “It is essential that we first protect the well-being of our neighbors, friends and supporters in the Keys, and the board opted to hope for ‘better days’ for the balance of 2021 and beyond.”
Pridgen emphasized that the agency will continue its own push and its community collaborations for masking and full vaccination.
“Our staff will continue to pursue every avenue to halt the rate of infection in our county,” Pridgen noted.
Key West city officials are slated to discuss the continuation or cancelation of upcoming special events at a city commission meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
